We use c’è or ci sono to say that something exists in a certain location: something is here o there.
We use c’è for singular sentences in present and ci sono for plural sentences in present.
C’è una sola persona. There is only one person.
Ci sono molte persone. There are a lot of persons.
In negative sentences, we say non c’è or non ci sono.
Non c’è abbastanza tempo. There’s not enough time.
We add ‘non’ even with words like nessuno, nulla, niente, neanche, nemmeno, neppure:
Non c’è nessuno a casa. There is nobody in the house.
Non c’è niente da fare. There is nothing we can do.
Non c’è neanche la neve. There is not even snow.
Interrogative sentences are the same as affirmative ones: only change the intonation of speech.
C’è un parco da queste parti? Is there a park around here?
Pay attention to the words that are plural in Italian and singular in English.
For example:
Non ci sono soldi. There is no money.
Non ci sono novità. There is no news.
In some sentences, c’è and ci sono can be placed at the end:
Il mio amico non c’è. My friend is not here.
I miei amici non ci sono. My friends are not here.